Peter Jooste, the convener of the Springbok selection panel, has confirmed that the panel will announce the national squad for the upcoming tours on May 14.
In order to prepare adequately for the tough international season ahead, during which they will play 12 Tests, the Springboks will attend a training camp from May 20 in Bloemfontein.
Those players who might still be involved in Super 12 action after the squad has assembled will join the camp at the end of their teams’ campaign.
The national selection panel of Jooste, Springbok coach Jake White, and Ian MacIntosh have had regular meetings during the Super 12 competition to monitor and discuss the performance of players.
They are to meet again on Monday to further discuss the composition of the squad.
Jooste said the panel will not change the principles of its selection policy, which resulted in nine out of 13 Test wins for the Springboks in 2004. In addition to lifting the Tri-Nations trophy, the Springboks also scooped three major prizes at the IRB Awards in London last December.
White was crowned IRB Coach of the Year, young flank forward Schalk Burger as the IRB Player of the Year and the Springboks as the IRB Team of the Year for 2004.
”Our selection policy is based on consistency and continuity. Last year we put a solid selection framework in place and the result of that speaks for itself. I want to reiterate that we will not change our approach,” Jooste explained.
Furthermore, the panel is confident that the Springboks will again perform admirably despite the poor results achieved by some of the South African teams in the current Super 12 competition.
”We have proven structures in place and know what our players can achieve at Test level.
”Of course, each person has his own opinion on what the Springbok team or squad must look like. Rugby evokes powerful emotions in our proud sporting nation. While we appreciate this, I think that it is important for people to understand that we do not base our selection criteria on emotion,” added Jooste.
The Springboks will play a once-off Test against Uruguay on June 11 in East London before they tackle France in a two-Test series on June 18 in Durban and June 25 in Port Elizabeth.
In addition to these three Tests, two Mandela Cup matches (versus Australia on July 9 in Sydney and July 23 in Johannesburg) await the Springboks before they begin the defence of their Tri-Nations trophy on July 30 against the Wallabies in Pretoria. – Sapa